Alabama’s Governor, Kay Ivey, shared an encouraging letter with the 2021-2022 Oakwood Adventist Academy (OAA) varsity boys’ basketball team. On Saturday, February 19, 2022, the OAA Mustangs team forfeited a regional tournament game rather than play on the sabbath.
Governor Ivey’s letter commended the players and coach for choosing God over things of the world and announced her solidarity with the team. She invited the OAA Mustangs to the state capitol to meet with her and expressed her disappointment that OAA was denied a chance to play in the tournament based on their faith.
Governor Ivey also sent a letter to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Executive Director Alvin Briggs to express her concern for the lack of accommodations for OAA’s beliefs and to demand answers.